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END OF WATCH: Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Joshua Bartlett, SWAT commander was killed while assisting the Levelland Police Department in a standoff. Bartlett leaves behind a wife and three children. "He gave his life in the defense of the citizens of Levelland today. We send our heartfelt prayers to his family, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service, Sgt. Bartlett. It is a debt we can never repay." — Levelland Police Department.
Levelland, Texas became the bloody scene of the shooting death of Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office Sgt Josh Bartlett, SWAT commander, and four officers wounded as a suspect barricaded himself inside a home last Thursday
Omar Soto-Chavira, 22, was arrested following an 11- hour standoff with law enforcement that began a little after 1 p.m. last Thursday. The suspect gave himself up just before midnight after a robot with chemicals was sent into the residence.
The standoff began with a call to the Levelland Police Department and LPD officers responding to a report of someone armed around 1:12 p.m. Once located in the 1100 block of 10th Street, the situation escalated, and shots were fired by the individual, identified as Soto-Chavira. LPD officers returned fire and called for backup.
The LCSO SWAT Team responded around 2:15 p.m. after receiving the assist call from the LPD. Shortly later, LCSO SWAT Commander Sgt. Josh Bartlett was reportedly shot when the suspect opened fire on the officers. He was transported to Covenant Medical Center in Levelland with life-threatening injuries where he was later pronounced deceased.
Lubbock PD Officer Shawn Wilson was also shot and transported to Lubbock where he underwent surgery and was reported to be stable but critical. Three other officers were treated and released.
A little after 9 p.m., Levelland Police Chief Albert Garcia was joined by Hockley County Sheriff Ray Scifres, Lubbock County Sheriff Kelly Rowe and Lubbock Police Chief Floyd Mitchell in a press conference. Garcia warned it was still "violent, volatile situation" with an armed man was still barricaded inside a house surrounded by dozens of local, state and federal law enforcement officials, Levelland Police Chief Albert Garcia said during news conference.
Sheriff Rowe expressed his grief at the loss of his SWAT team's commander, Sgt. Josh Bartlett, while acknowledging officials were still dealing with a live scene.
Chief Garcia also confirmed Texas DPS troopers initially encountered the armed man during an unrelated traffic stop about 11 a.m. near Levelland with a Chevrolet pickup truck that was driving recklessly. The trooper reported trying to be baited by the suspect during a traffic stop.
The standoff wasn’t the first brush with law enforcement that Soto-Chavira had. He was arrested in Hockley County on June 25 for assault of a family member. He was able to post a $2,500 bond, according to jail records on June 29. He was booked back into jail the same day, for a list of charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, continuous violence, assault on a family member, resisting arrest and assault causing bodily injury. On July 11, he was able to post bonds totaling $66,000 to be released from jail.
Soto-Chavira now faces the charge of capital murder that, according to the Texas State Penal Code, it is the only crime punishable by the death penalty. Other charges include two counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer.
Agencies responding to the situation were Levelland Police Department, Hockley County Sheriff’s Office Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Rangers, Texas DPS, Lubbock Police Department, ATF, FBI US Marshals and Homeland Security. Other agencies responding were Sheriff’s Offices from the area including Lamb, Terry and Hale counties.
The Texas Rangers will be conducting the investigation.
An outpouring of condolences came from across the state at the loss of Sgt. Bartlett from state and county law enforcement.
Governor Greg Abbott issued a statement after the officer was killed in the line of duty:
"Our hearts are with the loved ones of Sgt. Josh Bartlett as the state of Texas mourns his tragic death. Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe, and Sgt. Bartlett's murder is a heart breaking reminder of the sacrifices faced by law enforcement every day. Cecilia and I ask our fellow Texans to pray for the family and friends of Sgt. Bartlett as they mourn his death, and we also pray for the other three law enforcement officers who were injured in the line of duty."